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Dose-dependent exposure and metabolism of GNE-892, a β-secretase inhibitor, in monkeys: contributions by P450, AO, and P-gp

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Abstract

(R)-2-Amino-1,3′,3′-trimethyl-7′-(pyrimidin-5-yl)-3′,4′-dihydro-2′H-spiro[imidazole-4,1′-naphthalen]-5(1H)-one (GNE-892) is an orally administered inhibitor of β-secretase 1 (β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1, BACE1) that was developed as an intervention therapy against Alzheimer’s disease. A clinical microdosing strategy was being considered for de-risking the potential pharmacokinetic liabilities of GNE-892. We tested whether dose-proportionality was observed in cynomolgus monkey as proof-of-concept for a human microdosing study. With cryopreserved monkey hepatocytes, concentration-dependency for substrate turnover and the relative contribution of P450- versus AO-mediated metabolism were observed. Characterization of the kinetics of these metabolic pathways demonstrated differences in the affinities of P450 and AO for GNE-892, which supported the metabolic profiles that had been obtained. To test if this metabolic shift occurred in vivo, mass balance studies in monkeys were conducted at doses of 0.085 and 15 mg/kg. Plasma exposure of GNE-892 following oral administration was more than 20-fold greater than dose proportional at the high-dose. P-gp-mediated efflux was unable to explain the discrepancy. The profiles of metabolites in circulation and excreta were indicative that oxidative metabolism limited the exposure to unchanged GNE-892 at the low dose. Further, the in vivo data supported the concentration-dependent metabolic shift between P450 and AO. In conclusion, microdosing of GNE-892 was not predictive of pharmacokinetics at a more pharmacologically relevant dose due to saturable absorption and metabolism. Therefore, it is important to consider ADME liabilities and their potential concentration-dependency when deciding upon a clinical microdosing strategy.

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Abbreviations

ADME:

Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion

AO:

Aldehyde oxidase

AUC:

Area under concentration–time curve

BACE:

β-Site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme

BDC:

Bile-duct cannulated

C max :

Maximum plasma concentration

MDCK:

Madin–Darby canine kidney cell line

MDR1:

Human multidrug resistance gene

P450:

Cytochrome P450

P-gp:

P-glycoprotein

PK:

Pharmacokinetics

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Acknowledgments

We thank Matthew Durk, Jialin Mao, and Sophie Mukadam for helpful discussions and Ronitte Libedinsky for editorial contributions.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Qin Yue

    Present address: Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA

  2. Kelly Regal

    Present address: ProPharma Services, LLC, Westminster, CO, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA

    Ryan Takahashi, Shuguang Ma, Qin Yue, Cornelis E. C. A. Hop, Xingrong Liu & S. Cyrus Khojasteh

  2. Department of Discovery Chemistry, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA

    Joseph P. Lyssikatos & Michael Siu

  3. XenoBiotic Laboratories, Inc., 107 Morgan Lane, Plainsboro, NJ, 08536, USA

    Heasook Kim-Kang & Yijun Yi

  4. Array BioPharma, 3200 Walnut Street, Boulder, CO, 80301, USA

    Kelly Regal, Kevin W. Hunt & Nicholas C. Kallan

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  1. Ryan Takahashi
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Correspondence to Ryan Takahashi.

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Takahashi, R., Ma, S., Yue, Q. et al. Dose-dependent exposure and metabolism of GNE-892, a β-secretase inhibitor, in monkeys: contributions by P450, AO, and P-gp. Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet 40, 171–185 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13318-014-0198-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13318-014-0198-5

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